novelhk Chapter 22 I Want to Give You a Chance to Make Money
Chapter 22 I Want to Give You a Chance to Make Money
"Susan, wait, slow down." Han Zhenhua tried to steady himself, his mind racing as he quickly calculated how to make up an excuse again.
He was terrified of the experiments following that "Nobel Prize-level" paper, as they were far beyond his knowledge of physics from junior high and high school. Every second he spent in contact with them increased the risk of exposure.
"We can't wait any longer, Han!" Susan turned around, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement and undeniable conviction. "Dad's experimental data this time perfectly confirms your theoretical model!"
The predictions regarding the selection and effectiveness of the neutron moderator were almost perfectly accurate! He was as excited as a child, saying that this was a discovery that could change the understanding of physics, and that I had to come over immediately!
Just as the two were pulling and tugging at each other, about to walk out of Jing'an Road and turn onto University Road, a tall figure and a bright color blocked their way.
He was an extremely tall and handsome young British officer, who looked to be about twenty-five or twenty-six years old. He was dressed in a crisp white Royal Navy summer uniform with gleaming epaulettes, his short blond hair was neatly styled, and his azure eyes were like the clear sky of the Mediterranean.
He wore a gentle, expectant smile, holding a large bouquet of vibrant red roses, and gazed intently at Susan.
"Susan!" The officer's voice was deep and pleasant, with a standard Oxford accent. "I've finally got you. There's a ball at the Fleet Club tonight, and I'd like to invite you to be my date."
He stepped forward and gracefully presented the flowers, his gaze completely focused on Susan, as if Han Zhenhua beside him did not exist.
Susan stopped in her tracks, a fleeting hint of embarrassment and helplessness crossing her face. She instinctively released her grip on Han Zhenhua's hand. "Wayne? I...I'm so sorry, I have something very important to do right now. I have to go see my father with Han immediately because a very important experiment awaits us." She pointed to Han Zhenhua beside her, her tone apologetic but resolute.
The officer named Wayne then turned his gaze to Han Zhenhua. His eyes held no hostility, only a hint of curiosity and the scrutiny that came with good upbringing.
He saw that Han Zhenhua had a young, Asian face, but was dressed appropriately and had a calm demeanor. He seemed quite familiar with Susan, but he did not look at his "love rival" with hostility. His pride, which came from the bottom of his heart, did not think that a person of Asian descent was qualified to be his love rival!
Moreover, Han Zhenhua looked only seventeen or eighteen years old, clearly still immature, and in terms of appearance, physique, family background, and status, he couldn't see anything that made Han Zhenhua better than him.
Susan quickly introduced the two: "Han, this is Mr. Wayne Holt, captain of the gunboat HMS Scarab in the Yangtze River Fleet of the Royal Navy."
"Wien, this is Han Zhenhua, my father's most prized student, a true physics genius, and now the youngest lecturer at St. John's University." Her tone was filled with undisguised admiration for Han Zhenhua.
A hint of surprise flashed in Captain Wayne Holt's eyes, but he immediately displayed impeccable gentlemanly manners.
He showed no displeasure at Susan's high regard for Han Zhenhua. Instead, he extended his hand to Han Zhenhua with a sincere yet slightly self-deprecating smile: "Mr. Han? It's a pleasure to meet you."
Please don't listen to Susan's exaggeration. I only command a small "insect-class" river gunboat with a mere 68 sailors including myself. We rotate every three days, with only 34 people on board each time. My job is simply to protect the British Empire's pitiful shipping interests and the safety of its citizens on the Yangtze River. It's hardly a position worth boasting about.
On the contrary, I was your age and hadn't even gone to university yet, while you were already a university lecturer. This shows that you are a true academic genius, and that is truly admirable.
His humility and sincerity instantly won Han Zhenhua's favor. Han Zhenhua shook hands with him and felt that the other's palm was broad and strong.
"Captain Wayne Holt, you're too kind. Maintaining the safety of the waterway and our citizens is a great and respectable responsibility," Han Zhenhua replied in fluent English, though a thought stirred within him.
In Shanghai during this era, the influence and symbolic significance of an active-duty captain of the Royal Navy, even if he was only the captain of an inland gunboat, should not be underestimated. Especially in this isolated concession surrounded by Japanese troops, establishing a good relationship with him would be tantamount to having an extra layer of protection.
"Just call me Wayne, that's what my friends call me!" Wayne saw that Susan was determined to leave, and although he was a little disappointed, he still maintained his composure: "Looks like my luck isn't so good today. Susan, since you have important business to attend to, I won't bother you any longer."
"We'll reschedule the dance for another time." He smiled casually and nodded to Han Zhenhua. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Han. I hope to have the opportunity to hear you talk about the amazing physics."
Just as he was about to turn and leave, Han Zhenhua had a sudden inspiration and called out to him, "Captain Wayne, please wait."
Wayne turned around in confusion.
Han Zhenhua gave a friendly yet slightly mysterious smile: "Captain, to thank you for your understanding and generosity, perhaps I can offer you... well, as a form of repayment?"
A small opportunity to make money, are you interested?
Wayne raised an eyebrow and replied warily, "A chance to make a fortune? Mr. Han, are you planning to use my warship to smuggle contraband?"
Then I can only apologize; the honor of the Royal Navy and the education I received from childhood do not allow me to do such a thing!
"Captain Wayne, you've misunderstood. The opportunity to make money I mentioned doesn't involve doing anything illegal; it's just a legitimate financial business!" Han Zhenhua explained, "I've received some very reliable insider information about a very brief but sharp fluctuation in the stock market soon. I have a foolproof trading plan."
He saw a hint of caution in Wayne's eyes, so he increased his bet: "Here's what we'll do, Captain. You just need to open an account at the China Securities Exchange and deposit some funds."
The day after tomorrow, I will tell you which stock to buy. You will use your own capital to operate. If you make a profit, all the profits are yours; if you lose money, I will personally compensate you for all your losses. What do you think? This offer is so generous that it's almost absurd, like a windfall for anyone.
Wayne froze, his face filled with disbelief: "Mr. Han, if we make a profit, it's on me; if we lose, it's on you?... This is too generous, and too risky! We've only just met, why would you...?"
Han Zhenhua smiled and interrupted him, "Just consider it making friends. Besides, I also have a small request."